Stovell: Opening partnership is crucial
Somerset opener Dion Stovell believes his new partnership with colt Terryn Fray can go a long way to determining the fortunes of their side in Cup Match.The pair have contrasting styles, with Stovell the more aggressive of the two while Fray takes a steadier approach, accumulating singles to keep the scoreboard ticking over.Both batsmen scored centuries in an opening stand for the President’s XI on Saturday, an impressive feat that didn’t go unnoticed by Somerset’s selectors.In past Classics, Stovell has been teamed up with Chris Douglas to open the innings with both being explosive batsmen that can bludgeon runs quickly.While Douglas misses out this year, Stovell believes Fray may hold the key to making a real game out of this year’s Classic if he can produce another methodical innings as the one he built on Saturday.“It should be a good combination with the two of us, (Fray) has the ability to hold his own out there and is a good batsman,” said Stovell. “He certainly has belief in himself and it will be interesting as we both have different styles; I’m a more aggressive player while he picks up singles and rotates the strike.“It has been different in the past with myself and Chris being out there as we’re the same type of batsman. But with Terryn and me opening, we should be able to lay down a platform for the team.“(Fray) likes to bat himself in but in Cup Match you can’t really play your natural game because you have to adjust to the situations all the time.”Stovell is yet to make his mark in Cup Match with the bat, but is eyeing up this year’s match as his official coming out party, admitting he owes it to the fans and selectors to come good on the day.Acknowledging that his side have to take 20 wickets over the two days, the Southampton Rangers skipper reckons the game will be won or lost with his team’s decision when to declare and how they shuffle around the batting line-up as the match –unfolds.“This time around I will play my game and take advantage of anything they give me, I feel I owe the Somerset fans and selectors some runs because I haven’t been amongst them in recent times,” said the Southampton Rangers skipper.“I know I’m capable of getting the job done and will look to use my style to impose myself on the game.“We are taking a good team, I don’t get involved with the decision making but I feel it’s a good balance. The selectors did their job and those who performed well in the trial earned their spot.“The key to this year will be decision making for us, when to declare, how many runs we need, and things of this nature. I think these will play a key role.“Also the batting line-up, because if our openers get a good start and we are on track to post a good first innings total then we can rotate the likes of Janeiro, Malachi, and Jacobi accordingly to the situation to look to get a result.”